Killing Beauty

Can You Remember my name
AS I flow through your life
A thousand oceans I have flown
And cold spirits of Ice
All my life
I am the Echo of Your Past

I am the returning echo of a point in time
Distant faces shine
A thousand warriors I have known
And laughing as the spirits appear
All your life
Shadows of another day

And if you hear me talking on the wind
You've got to understand
We must remain perfect strangers

I know I must remain inside this silent well of sorrow

A strand of silver hanging through the sky
Touching more that you see
The voice of ages in your mind
Is aching with the dead of the night
Precious life (your tears are lost in falling rain)

And if you hear me talking on the wind
You've got to understand
WE must remain
Perfect strangers............Deep Purple.......happy b'd Ian
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Kalan took the sword and slashed the twin's arms. The blood flowed hot. The twin with Haldir would feel it as his brother's life slipping away drop by drop.

"If anyone tries to enter the cell, kill them," he told the two bowmen stationed inside the door. Stepping out in the street, he felt the blood lust settling in his body, almost like the lust of desire. If anything this emotion was stronger. There were other guards around the cell with orders to kill any intruders. Now to seperate his first kill from the others. No sense wasting energy on underlings.

Elrohir gasped sharply and drew rein inside the Minis Tirith gate. AShva reached for him. Elrohir was frantic! Touching him in his desparate state only agitated her own fears.

"He knows we're here," She half pleaded with Haldir, her anxiety growing. She didn't mean to show her terror, but she couldn't help it. They weren't in control of the situation any more, Kalan was, and he was nearby. If they hadn't sworn to find Elladan, she would have done everything in her power to get Haldir and his brothers away from this place.

He climbed off his horse with his brothers while AShva stared at him with tears in her eyes. Dannor had told them where Elladan was being kept high in the city, and he had to agree with his lover, Kalan knew they were there. So much for secrecy.

Call it a familar scent...a memory in his brain, but Haldir knew Kalan was watching from some hidden shadow. He let his eyes sweep the streets and walls above them, but Kalan knew how to hide from elven eyes. "Orophin," he told his brother, "Take them up to the cell and get Elladan."

"What are you going to do?" Ashva asked quickly.

"Go on," he said softly, still searching the upper levels for the dark elf. "I'm sure he has it guarded so be careful."

"And if it is guarded?" Orophin asked.

"Try not to kill anyone, but protect yourself first and foremost."

"Are you sure you won't have one of us stay with you?" Orophin asked. He knew Rumil would be afraid to see the one who had tried to burn him, but Rumil could free Elladan while he stayed with Haldir.

"No, go on," Haldir said. "Kalan won't come out if anyone's with me."

"Then I will stay!" Ashva hissed. "I will stay."

Haldir shook his head. "You're needed with them. Go now."

AShva climbed off her horse and would have gone to him, but he looked away. It was Rumil who took her arm and led her up the empty street. Orophin coaxed Elrohir off his animal, and although the twin was clearly distressed, he was able to function.
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Kalan smiled as Haldir stayed behind waiting for him. When the golden elf withdrew his sword and looked right at him, he wondered if he had not seen him all along. Stepping into the open, his own sword resting easily in his hand, he had to admit this one was as beautiful as he remembered. This slayer of As'pa....and himself. How bitterly ironic. He was going to kill his slayer.

Haldir still carried that one handed sword that was a bastardized elven/Dunedain creation, but Kalan didn't care. Even when Haldir added a dirk to his arsenal, Kalan didn't care. His blade was strong and sharp, designed for slicing through the bones of orcs and trolls. And when Haldir smiled, Kalan knew he would enjoy removing that smirk from the other's face.

Like two magnificent cats sizing each other up, they side stepped, circling, gaging the other's weakness. Light and dark. The clumbsy charging steps of mortals would not be seen this night. If a fight to the death could be seen as a thing of beauty it would be seen between these two combatants.

Kalan attacked first.
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Ashva heard the sound of metal biting metal and bit her fist to keep from screaming. Rumil held her close and spoke soothingly to her. They needed to find Elladan. Haldir could take care of Kalan. She had to believe.